Things To Do At Home on August Bank Holiday

August bank holiday weekend is the ideal time to whip up a picnic and enjoy the outdoors! If the weather is nice and the sun is bright and shining, then set up a picnic area in your garden.

Make some delicious food, including all your favourite snacks and enjoy a family day out! Whether you branch out and make an Italian-inspired picnic, or stick to the classics of cheese sandwiches and crisps.

Then you can enjoy some family-friendly garden games like badminton, football, tag or lie on the grass and cloud watch!

Turn your living room into a private cinema for the day!

Pick a theme, whether it’s classic Disney movies, superhero adventures, or a Harry Potter marathon. Make some popcorn, gather all sorts of cushions and a soft blanket for cosy vibes.

Dim the light or close the curtains, and add some fairy lights around the TV. Then yo can settle in for a movie marathon that’s perfect for the whole family.

Be sure to take turns choosing the movies to keep things fair and exciting!

Unleash your family’s artistic side with a day of crafting!

Set up a dedicated crafting station with various supplies like coloured paper, coloured pens and felt tips, glue and scissors. Or anything else you can think of!

You could create anything from homemade greeting cards and scrapbooks to painted rocks and tie-dye T-shirts. The possibilities are endless, and the resulting masterpieces will be cherished keepsakes! There’s nothing like family fun than getting a little bit messy.

If you have a backyard or garden space, why not embark on a camping adventure without leaving home? You can choose to spend the entire weekend outside if you wish!

Pitch a tent, set up sleeping bags, and create a cosy campfire using LED lights. Roast marshmallows, tell ghost stories, and gaze at the stars. It’s a fantastic opportunity to disconnect from screens and connect with nature. Even if it’s just a few steps from your door.

Not to mention, it’s a relaxing and light-hearted activity to experience before the kids head back to school and back into their routines.

Turn your kitchen into a culinary playground and have a cooking or baking competition!

Each family member can select a recipe to try out, and then you can all taste-test each other’s creations. It’s a great way to experiment with new recipes, learn cooking skills, and share a delicious meal together.

This is a great culinary activity for older kids who like to experiment with tastes. They might even have their favourite celebrity chef they want to take after… Maybe you have a mini Gordan Ramsey or Gino D’Acampo?

Don’t forget to take photos of your culinary masterpieces for future memories!

Release your inner superstar and host a family karaoke party!

Set up a staging area with a microphone and speakers, and compile a playlist of everyone’s favourite songs. Singing together is not only entertaining but also an activity full of plenty of laughter and unforgettable moments.

Whether you have amazing voices or not-so-great ones. It’s a fun family activity that you can enjoy before spending a few hours outside in the sunshine or settling down for a movie.

Dust off those board games and puzzles and get ready for a day of friendly competition.

Set up a game station with a variety of options, from classic board games to strategy games and jigsaw puzzles.

Let each family member choose a game, and rotate it throughout the day for maximum fun. Board games encourage critical thinking and teamwork, making them a fantastic choice for family bonding!

Can you rule half the board in Monopoly? Make the longest (and highest) word in Scrabble. Or can your team win in Articulate? There are plenty of family games you can play!

If you have a green thumb or just want to spend some time outdoors, why not engage in some gardening?

Plant flowers, herbs, or even some vegetables in your garden or in pots on your balcony. Ready for next year! It’s a wonderful way to teach kids about nature, responsibility, and the joys of watching something grow. Plus, being surrounded by plants and fresh air is incredibly rejuvenating for everyone.

Here’s some vegetable seeds you can plant in August:

• Onions and garlic
• Courgettes
• Cucumbers
• Tomatoes
• Potatoes
• Lettuce

Perfect for the autumn, for salads or even hearty soups.

If you love flowers, don’t fret! Just because the summer is almost over doesn’t mean you can’t grow any flora. Here’s a few flowers and planets you can sow in August:

• Cacti
• Californian poppies
• Forget-me-nots
• Snowdrops
• Calendula – a citrus daisy mix
• Wild Cornflower

Pick up the seeds from your local garden centre and watch how they grow!

After all the excitement, it’s time to unwind and pamper yourselves.

Set up a spa-like atmosphere with scented candles, relaxing music, and cosy blankets. Whack on an oil diffuser, bring out your favourite snacks, face masks and eye masks and take a load off.

Wrap yourself in a warm and soft dressing gown, and wear your PJs and slippers. Then simply indulge in a good book or a movie marathon. It’s a great way to recharge and show appreciation for one another and for the incredible summer you just had!

To commemorate the summer, why not start a family scrapbook? You can all take turns to add to the scrapbook, whether it’s writing what you did this summer, doodling or sticking down pictures!

Not only does scrapbooking provide an outlet for self-expression, but it also creates a unique family keepsake that you can look back on in the future. Get creative, and artistic and look back at all the wonderful memories you made.